Reduction of gas phase reduced nitrogen species in partial burn FCC processes

ABSTRACT

Reduced emissions of gas phase reduced nitrogen species in the off gas of an FCC regenerator operated in a partial or incomplete mode of combustion is achieved by contacting the off gas with an oxidative catalyst/additive composition having the ability to reduce gas phase nitrogen species to molecular nitrogen. Fluidizable particles of the oxidative catalyst/additives are circulated throughout the partial or incomplete burn FCC unit along with the FCC catalyst inventory. The flue gas having a reduced content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species and NO x  is passed to a downstream CO boiler, preferably a low NO x CO boiler. In the CO boiler, as CO is oxidized to CO 2 , a reduced amount of gas phase reduced nitrogen species is oxidized to NO x , thereby providing an increase in the overall reduction of NO x  emitted into the environment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/274,621, filed Oct. 21, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process for the reduction of NO_(x)emissions in refinery processes, and specifically in a fluid catalyticcracking (FCC) process. Particularly, the present invention relates to aprocess for the reduction of gas phase reduced nitrogen species (e.g.NH₃, HCN) in the off gas from a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU)regenerator operating in a partial or incomplete combustion mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years there has been an increased concern in the United Statesand elsewhere about air pollution from industrial emissions of noxiousoxides of nitrogen, sulfur and carbon. In response to such concerns,government agencies have in some cases already placed limits onallowable emissions of one or more of the pollutants, and the trend isclearly in the direction of increasingly stringent restrictions.

NO_(x), or oxides of nitrogen, in flue gas streams exiting from fluidcatalytic cracking (FCC) regenerators is a pervasive problem. Fluidcatalytic cracking units (FCCU) process heavy hydrocarbon feedscontaining nitrogen compounds a portion of which is contained in thecoke on the catalyst as it enters the regenerator. Some of this cokenitrogen is eventually converted into NO_(x) emissions, either in theFCC regenerator or in a downstream CO boiler. Thus all FCCUs processingnitrogen-containing feeds can have a NO_(x) emissions problem due tocatalyst regeneration.

In an FCC process, catalyst particles (inventory) are repeatedlycirculated between a catalytic cracking zone and a catalyst regenerationzone. During regeneration, coke (from the cracking reaction) deposits onthe catalyst particles are removed at elevated temperatures by oxidationwith oxygen containing gases such as air. The removal of coke depositsrestores the activity of the catalyst particles to the point where theycan be reused in the cracking reaction. The coke removal step isperformed over a wide range of oxygen availability conditions. At theminimum, there is typically at least enough oxygen to convert all thecoke made to CO and H₂O. At the maximum, the amount of oxygen availableis equal to or greater than the amount necessary to oxidize all the coketo CO₂ and H₂O.

In an FCC unit operating with sufficient air to convert essentially allof the coke on the catalyst to CO₂ and H₂O, the gas effluent exiting theregenerator will contain “excess oxygen” (typically 0.5 to 4% of totaloff gas). This combustion mode of operation is usually called “fullburn”. When the fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) regenerator isoperating in full burn mode, the conditions in the regenerator are forthe most part oxidizing. That is, there is at least enough oxygen toconvert (burn) all reducing gas phase species (e.g., CO, ammonia, HCN)regardless of whether this actually happens during the residence time ofthese species in the regenerator. Under these conditions, essentiallyall of the nitrogen deposited with coke on the catalyst during thecracking process in the FCCU riser is eventually converted to molecularnitrogen or NO_(x) and exits the regenerator as such with the off gas.The amount of coke nitrogen converted to NO_(x) as opposed to molecularnitrogen depends on the design, conditions and operation of the FCCU andespecially of the regenerator, but typically the majority of cokenitrogen exits the regenerator as molecular nitrogen.

On the other hand, when the amount of air added to the FCCU regeneratoris insufficient to fully oxidize the coke on the cracking catalyst toCO₂ and H₂O, some of the coke remains on the catalyst, while asignificant portion of the burnt coke carbon is oxidized only to CO. InFCCUs operating in this fashion, oxygen may or may not be present in theregenerator off gas. However, should any oxygen be present in theregenerator off gas, it is typically not enough to convert all of the COin a gas stream to CO₂ according to the chemical stoichiometry ofCO+ 1/2 O₂→CO₂This mode of operation is usually called “partial burn.” When an FCCUregenerator is operating in partial burn mode, the CO produced, a knownpollutant, cannot be discharged untreated to the atmosphere. To removethe CO from the regenerator off gas and realize the benefits ofrecovering the heat associated with burning it, refiners typically burnthe CO in the regenerator off gas with the assistance of added fuel andair in a burner usually referred to as “the CO boiler”. The heatrecovered by burning the CO is used to generate steam.

When the regenerator is operating in partial burn, the conditions in theregenerator, where the oxygen added with air has been depleted and COconcentration has built up, are overall reducing. That is, there is notenough oxygen to convert/burn all reducing species regardless if someoxygen is actually still present. Under these conditions some of thecoke-nitrogen is converted to so called “gas phase reduced nitrogenspecies”, examples of which are ammonia and HCN. NO_(x) may sometimesalso be present in the partial burn regenerator off gas, but typicallyonly in small amounts. When these gas phase reduced nitrogen species areburnt in the CO boiler with the rest of the regenerator off gas, theycan be oxidized to NO_(x), which is then emitted to the atmosphere. ThisNO_(X) along with any “thermal” NO_(X) formed in the CO boiler burner byoxidizing atmospheric N₂ constitute the total NO_(X) emissions of theFCCU unit operating in a partial or incomplete combustion mode.

FCCU regenerators may also be designed and operated in a “incompleteburn” mode intermediate between full burn and partial burn modes. Anexample of such an intermediate regime occurs when enough CO isgenerated in the FCCU regenerator to require the use of a CO boiler, butbecause the amounts of air added are large enough to bring the unitclose to full burn operation mode, significant amounts of oxygen can befound in the off gas and large sections of the regenerator are actuallyoperating under overall oxidizing conditions. In such case, while gasphase reduced nitrogen species can still be found in the off gas,significant amounts of NO_(x) are also present. In most cases a majorityof this NO_(x) is not converted in the CO boiler and ends up beingemitted to the atmosphere.

Yet another combustion mode of operating an FCCU is nominally in fullburn with relatively low amounts of excess oxygen and/or inefficientmixing of air with coked catalyst. In this case, large sections of theregenerator may be under reducing conditions even if the overallregenerator is nominally oxidizing. Under these conditions reducednitrogen species may be found in the regenerator off gas along withNO_(x)

Various catalytic approaches have been proposed to control NO_(x)emissions in the flue gas exiting from the FCCU regenerator.

For example, recent patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,280,607,6,129,834 and 6,143,167, have proposed the use of NO_(x) removalcompositions for reducing NO_(x) emissions from an FCCU regenerator.U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,933 also discloses a NO_(x) reduction composition,which promotes CO combustion during an FCC catalyst regeneration processstep while simultaneously reducing the level of NO_(x) emitted duringthe regeneration step. NO_(x) compositions disclosed by these patentsmay be used as an additive, which is circulated along with the FCCcatalyst inventory or incorporated as an integral part of the FCCcatalyst.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,878, NO, is controlled in the presence of aplatinum-promoted CO oxidative promoters in a full burn combustionregenerator by the addition of iridium or rhodium on the combustionpromoter in amounts lesser than the amount of Pt.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,973,399 discloses copper-loaded zeolite additives usefulfor reducing emissions of NO_(x) from the regenerator of an FCCU unitoperating in full CO-burning mode.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,057, teaches the removal of NH₃ contaminants ofgaseous fuel by reacting the NH₃ with a sufficient amount of NO_(x).

However, aforementioned prior art has failed to appreciate an FCCprocess which minimizes the amount of gas phase reduced nitrogenspecies, e.g. NH₃ and HCN, in the flue gas of an FCCU regeneratoroperating in a partial or incomplete combustion mode.

Efforts to control ammonia released in an FCC regenerator operated in apartial or an incomplete mode of combustion have been known.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,144 discloses reducing ammonia in anFCC regenerator operating in a partial burn combustion mode by adding asignificant excess of the amount of a carbon monoxide (CO) oxidativepromoter sufficient to prevent afterburn combustion in the dilute phaseof the regenerator.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,282 discloses a process for reducing the content ofammonia in a regeneration zone off gas of an FCCU regenerator operatingin a partial or incomplete combustion mode. The process requires passinga fine sized, i.e. 10 to 40 microns, ammonia decomposition catalyst toeither the regeneration zone of an FCCU, or an admixture with the offgas from the regeneration zone of the FCCU, at a predetermined make-uprate such that the residence time of the decomposition catalyst relativeto the larger FCC catalyst particles will be short in the dense bed ofthe regenerator due to rapid elutriation of the fine sized ammoniadecomposition catalyst particles. The fine sized elutriateddecomposition catalyst particles are captured by a third stage cycloneseparator and recycled to the regenerator of the FCCU. The decompositioncatalyst may be a noble group metal dispersed on an inorganic support.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,962 is illustrative of a post-treatment process toreduce ammonia in the FCCU regenerator flue gas. The post-treatmentinvolves treating the regenerator flue gas to lessen the ammonia contentafter the gas has exited the FCCU regenerator but before passage to theCO boiler.

There remains a need in the refining industry for improved FCC processeswhich minimizes the content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species andNO_(x) emitted from a partial or incomplete combustion FCCU regeneratorwhich processes are simple and do not require additional equipment, timeand expense typically associated with prior FCC processes for theremoval of the gas phase reduced nitrogen species in the regenerator offgas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A catalytic cracking process has been developed which reduces thecontent of gas phase reduced nitrogen species, e.g. NH₃ and HCN, in theflue gas released from a partial or incomplete burn regeneration zone ofthe catalytic cracking unit prior to exiting the regenerator and beforepassage to a CO boiler. Advantageously, the process of the inventionconverts gas phase reduced nitrogen species to molecular nitrogen duringthe catalytic cracking process in the presence of CO and otherreductants and oxidizers typically found in the regeneration zoneoperated in partial burn, thereby preventing the conversion of thereduced nitrogen species to NO_(x) in the CO boiler.

Despite the reducing environment in an FCCU regenerator operated in apartial burn or incomplete burn mode, some NO_(x) may form in theregenerator. In addition to controlling the content of gas phase reducednitrogen species, the process of the invention also enhances thereduction of any NO_(x) formed in the partial or incomplete burnregenerator during an FCC process. Particulate compositions used in theinvention process catalyze the reaction of NO_(x) with reductantstypically found in the FCCU regenerator, e.g. CO, hydrocarbons and gasphase reduced nitrogen species, to form molecular nitrogen.Advantageously, the process of the invention provides a reduction inNO_(x) in the regenerator prior to the NO_(x) exiting the regeneratorand being passed through the CO boiler and into the environment.

The process of the invention comprises providing a circulating inventoryof cracking catalyst in a catalytic cracking vessel having aregeneration zone operated in a partial or incomplete combustion mode,with an oxidative catalyst/additive composition having the ability tooxidize gas phase reduced nitrogen species emissions to molecularnitrogen under catalytic cracking conditions, and circulating theoxidative catalyst/additive composition throughout the cracking vesselsimultaneously with the cracking catalyst inventory during the catalyticcracking process.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the process is a fluidcatalytic cracking (FCC) process wherein the fluid catalytic crackingunit (FCCU) regenerator is operated in a partial or incompletecombustion mode. In accordance with the process of the invention, theoxidative catalyst/additive is circulated throughout the FCCU along withthe FCC catalyst inventory in a manner such that the residence time ofthe catalyst/additive composition in the FCCU regenerator relative tothe residence time of the FCC cracking catalyst is the same orsubstantially the same.

Advantageously, the process of the invention provides for a decrease inthe content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species in the flue gasreleased from an FCCU regenerator operating in a partial or incompleteburn mode. The flue gas having the reduced content of reduced nitrogenspecies is passed to a CO boiler. In the CO boiler, as CO is oxidized toCO₂, a lower amount of the gas phase reduced nitrogen species isoxidized to NO_(x), thereby providing an increase in the overallreduction of NO_(x) emissions from the FCCU.

Accordingly, it is an advantage of this invention to provide a processfor reducing the content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species, e.g. NH₃and HCN, in the flue gas exiting an FCC unit regenerator operating undera partial or incomplete mode of combustion.

It is another advantage of this invention to provide a process for thereduction of NO_(x) in the off gas of a partial or incomplete combustionFCCU regenerator by diminishment and control of gas phase reducednitrogen species being emitted with the regenerator zone effluent.

It is yet another advantage of this invention to provide a process forthe reduction of the content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species, e.g.NH₃ and HCN, in an FCCU regenerator operating in partial or incompletecombustion mode utilizing a particulate oxidative catalyst/additivehaving a particle size sufficient to permit the catalyst/additive to becirculated throughout the FCCU simultaneously with the FCC catalystinventory.

Another advantage of this invention is to provide a process for reducingthe gas phase reduced nitrogen species, e.g. NH₃ and HCN, in the off gasof a partial or incomplete combustion FCCU regenerator wherein the gasphase reduced nitrogen species is reduced to molecular nitrogen therebypreventing their conversion to NOx.

It is yet another advantage of this invention to provide a process forthe reduction of gas phase reduced nitrogen species in an effluentstream passed from an FCC regenerator to a CO boiler, whereby as CO isoxidized to CO₂ a lesser amount of the reduced nitrogen species isoxidized to NO_(x).

Another advantage of this invention is to provide improved FCC processescharacterized by a reduction of gas phase reduced nitrogen species inthe effluent gas stream passed from the FCC regenerator to a CO boiler,which process eliminates the need and expense of additional processingequipment and steps hereto proposed in the post-treatment of theregenerator flue gas after exiting the FCCU regenerator.

Another advantage of this invention is to provide improved FCC processescharacterized by a reduction in the overall NO_(x) emissions due to thereduction of gas phase reduced nitrogen species in the effluent gasstream passed from the FCC regenerator to a CO boiler.

Yet, another advantage of the present invention is to provide improvedFCC processes characterized by a reduction in the overall NO_(x)emissions due to the use of additives for reduction of gas phase reducednitrogen species in the effluent gas stream passed from the FCCregenerator to a CO boiler, in combination with a “low NO_(x)” CO boiler(that is one designed for low thermal NO_(x) generation), therebyresulting in even lower overall NO_(x) emissions than achievable withthe use of the additive alone.

Another advantage of this invention is to provide improved FCC processescharacterized by a reduction in the overall NO_(x) emissions from anFCCU regenerator operating in partial or incomplete combustion modes bycatalyzing the reaction of NO_(x) with CO and other reductants typicallypresent in a partial or incomplete burn FCCU regenerator.

These and other aspects of the present invention are described infurther detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of the comparison of ammoniaconversion reduction in an RTU where ammonia reacts with CO at variouslevels of oxygen in a reactor feed in the presence of additives A, B andC, the FCC catalyst alone, and a commercial combustion promoter, CP-3®.

FIG. 2 is a graphic representation of the comparison of ammoniaconversion to NO_(x) in an RTU where ammonia reacts with CO at variouslevels of oxygen in a reactor feed in the presence of the additives A, Band C, the FCC catalyst alone, and a commercial combustion promoter,CP-3®.

FIG. 3 is a graphic representation of the comparison of ammoniaconversion in an RTU where ammonia reacts with NO_(x) at various levelsof O₂ in a reactor feed in the presence of additives A, B and C, the FCCcatalyst alone, and a commercial combustion promoter, CP-3®.

FIG. 4 is a graphic representation of the comparison of NO_(x)conversion in an RTU where ammonia reacts with NO at various levels ofO₂ in a reactor feed in the presence of additives A, B and C, the FCCcatalyst alone, and a commercial combustion promoter, CP-3®.

FIG. 5 is a graphic representation of the comparison of NO_(x)conversion to molecular nitrogen in an RTU where ammonia reacts with COat various levels of O₂ in a reactor feed in the presence of additivesA, B and C, the FCC catalyst alone, and a commercial combustionpromoter, CP-3®.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of this invention the term “NO_(x)” will be used herein torepresent oxides of nitrogen, e.g. nitric oxide, (NO) and nitrogendioxide (NO₂) the principal noxious oxides of nitrogen, as well as N₂O₄,N₂O₅, and mixtures thereof.

The term reduced “gas phase reduced nitrogen species” is used herein toindicate any gas phase species formed in the regenerator of a fluidcatalytic cracking unit during a fluid catalytic cracking process whichgas species contain a nitrogen having a nominal charge of less thanzero. Examples of gas phase reduced nitrogen species include, but arenot limited to, ammonia (NH₃), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and the like.

In accordance with the process of the invention, the content of NO_(x)emitted during an FCC process operating in a partial or incompletecombustion mode is effectively brought to a lower and more acceptablelevel by reducing the amount of gas phase reduced nitrogen speciespresent in the flue gas of the FCCU regenerator prior to passage of thegas to the CO boiler, where as CO is oxidized to CO₂ a lesser amount ofthe reduced nitrogen species, e.g. NH₃ and HCN, is oxidized to NO_(x)and emitted into the atmosphere. The reduction of the gas phase reducednitrogen species is accomplished by contacting the circulating crackingcatalyst inventory with an amount of an oxidative catalyst/additivesufficient to reduce the content of the reduced nitrogen species in theregenerator off gas while the additive is circulated throughout the FCCUsimultaneously with the circulating catalyst inventory.

While the mechanism by which the process of the invention works toremove or minimize gas phase reduced nitrogen species is not preciselyunderstood, it is believed that the process proceeds via two distinctmechanisms, either of which results in the conversion of reducednitrogen species to molecular nitrogen. In one of the mechanisms, thegas phase reduced nitrogen species is partially oxidized to molecularN₂, according to a reaction that for NH₃ is:2NH₃+3/2O₂→N₂+3H₂OAlternatively, the gas phase reduced nitrogen species can be oxidized toa nitrogen oxide, most likely NO. The catalyst/additive then catalyzesthe reduction of the resulting nitrogen oxide by reacting it with one ofthe reductants present in the regenerator, e.g. CO or unconvertedammonia. Additionally, the resultant NO_(x) can be reduced by reactingwith the coke on the cracking catalyst being regenerated. For the gasphase reduced nitrogen species NH₃, this mechanism proceeds according tothe following reaction scheme:2NH₃+5/2O2→2NO+3H₂O2NO+CO→N₂+CO₂2NO+2C→N₂+2CO2NO+C→2N₂+CO₂2NH₃+3NO→5/2N₂+3H₂O

The invention process involves circulating an inventory of crackingcatalyst and the gas phase reduced nitrogen species oxidativecatalyst/additive in a catalytic cracking process, which presently isalmost invariably the FCC process. For convenience, the invention willbe described with reference to the FCC process although the presentcracking process could be used in the older moving bed type (TCC)cracking process with appropriate adjustments in particle size to suitthe requirements of the process. Apart from the addition of theoxidative catalyst/additive composition to the catalyst inventory andsome possible changes in the product recovery section, discussed below,the manner of operating the process will remain unchanged. Thus,conventional FCC catalysts may be used, for example, zeolite basedcatalysts with a faujasite cracking component as described in theseminal review by Venuto and Habib, Fluid Catalytic Cracking withZeolite Catalysts, Marcel Dekker, New York 1979, ISBN 0-8247-6870-1 aswell as in numerous other sources such as Sadeghbeigi, Fluid CatalyticCracking Handbook, Gulf Publ. Co. Houston, 1995, ISBN 0-88415-290-1.Typically, the FCC catalysts consist of a binder, usually silica,alumina, or silica alumina, a Y type acidic zeolitic active component,one or more matrix aluminas and/or silica aluminas, and fillers such askaolin clay. The Y zeolite may be present in one or more forms and mayhave been ultra-stabilized and/or treated with stabilizing cations suchas any of the rare earths.

Somewhat briefly, the fluid catalytic cracking process in which a heavyhydrocarbon feedstock will be cracked to lighter products takes place bycontact of the feed in a cyclic catalyst recirculation cracking processwith a circulating fluidizable catalytic cracking catalyst inventoryconsisting of particles having a mean particle size of from about 50 toabout 150 μm, preferably about 60 to about 100 μm. The significant stepsin the cyclic process are:

-   -   (i) the feed is catalytically cracked in a catalytic cracking        zone, normally a riser cracking zone, operating at catalytic        cracking conditions by contacting feed with a source of hot,        regenerated cracking catalyst to produce an effluent comprising        cracked products and spent catalyst containing coke and        strippable hydrocarbons;    -   (ii) the effluent is discharged and separated, normally in one        or more cyclones, into a vapor phase rich in cracked product and        a solids rich phase comprising the spent catalyst;    -   (iii) the vapor phase is removed as product and fractionated in        the FCC main column and its associated side columns to form gas        and liquid cracking products including gasoline;    -   (iv) the spent catalyst is stripped, usually with steam, to        remove occluded hydrocarbons from the catalyst, after which the        stripped catalyst is oxidatively regenerated to produce hot,        regenerated catalyst which is then recycled to the cracking zone        for cracking further quantities of feed.

Suitable feedstocks include petroleum distillates or residuals of crudeoils which, when catalytically cracked, provide either a gasoline or agas oil product. Synthetic feeds having boiling points of about 204° C.to about 816° C., such as oil from coal, tar sands or shale oil, canalso be included.

Cracking conditions employed during the conversion of higher molecularweight hydrocarbons to lower molecular weight hydrocarbons include atemperature of 480 to about 600° C. A catalyst to hydrocarbon weightratio of about 1 to 100, preferably about 3 to 20 is contemplated forthe hydrocarbons conversion. The average amount of coke deposited on thesurface of the catalyst is between 0.5 weight percent and 3.0 weightpercent depending on of the quality of the feed, the catalyst used, andthe unit design and operation. Rapid disengagement of the hydrocarbonsfrom the catalyst is accomplished in a quick-stripping zone eitherintrinsic within the reactor or located in an external vessel. Thisstripping function is performed in the presence of steam or anotherinert gas at a temperature of about 480° C. to about 600° C.

The catalyst regeneration zone of the FCC process includes a lower densebed of catalyst having a temperature of about 600° C. to about 800° C.and a surmounted dilute phase of catalyst having a temperature of from600° C. to about 800° C. As it is well known in the art, the catalystregeneration zone may consist of a single or multiple reactor vessels.In order to remove coke from the catalyst, oxygen is added to theregeneration zone. This is performed by conventional means, such as forexample, using a suitable sparging device in the bottom of theregeneration zone or, if desired, additional oxygen is added to othersections of the dense bed or the dilute phase of the regeneration zone.

In the present invention it is preferable to provide anunder-stoichiometric quantity of oxygen to operate the regeneration zonein a partial or incomplete combustion mode. For the purposes of thisinvention, the regeneration zone is operated in a partial or incompletecombustion mode, when any one the following conditions is satisfied: (1)there is not sufficient air or oxygen added to the regenerator toconvert all the carbon in the coke on the spent cracking catalyst toCO₂; (2) the effluent from the regenerator does not contain enoughoxygen to convert all CO in the regenerator effluent to CO₂; and/or (3)sufficient amount of CO is present in the regenerator effluent torequire the use of a CO boiler to treat the regenerator effluent andconvert the CO contained in the effluent to CO₂ before having said FCCUregenerator effluent discharged to the atmosphere.

Downstream of the regeneration zone, the solid catalyst and oxidativecatalyst/additive particles and spent regeneration gas, comprising asmall quantity of oxygen, as well as carbon monoxide plus carbondioxide, water, and nitrogen oxides, and gas phase reduced nitrogenspecies are passed to a separation means. Preferably, the separationmeans comprises a series of cyclone separators wherein the particleswill drop out of the bottom of the cyclone separators while theregeneration gas will be discharged in the overhead of the cycloneseparator. After the regeneration off gas has been sufficientlyseparated from the solid particles in the separation means, the gas ispassed to a CO boiler where added oxygen is provided to oxidize CO toCO₂. The CO boiler or combustion zone is typically operated withauxiliary fuel in order to insure complete conversion of CO to carbondioxide. Either upstream or downstream of the CO boiler, anelectrostatic precipitator may be utilized to remove dust particleswhich are entrained in the regeneration off gas. A scrubber may also beused to reduce both particulates and SO_(x) emissions from the unit.

The oxidative catalyst/additives useful in the process of the inventionmay be any fluidizable material having the activity to oxidize gas phasereduced nitrogen species present in the off gas emitted from theregenerator zone of an FCCU operated in partial or incomplete combustionmode to molecular nitrogen under catalytic cracking conditions as thecatalyst/additive is being circulated throughout the cracking unit alongwith the inventory of cracking catalyst. Typically, thecatalyst/additives comprise a porous, amorphous or crystalline,refractory support material, e.g. an acidic metal oxide, a spinel, ahydrotalcite or the like, promoted with at least one metal component.Suitable metal promoters include, but are not limited, to alkali and/oralkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals, Platinumgroup metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIb metals, Group VIA metals,germanium, tin, bismuth, antimony and mixtures thereof. Platinum groupmetals are particularly preferred. Also preferred are transition metalsand rare earth metals having oxygen storage capacity. The metalpromoters are used in amounts sufficient to promote, under catalyticcracking conditions, ammonia oxidation and NO_(x) reduction via thereaction of NOx with gas phase reductants, such as CO, hydrocarbons andthe like, typically found in the regenerator of an FCCU operated atpartial or incomplete burn.

One class of materials suitable for use as oxidative catalyst/additivesin the process of the invention include compositions disclosed anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,683, filed concurrently herewith, saidapplication being herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.Oxidative catalyst/additive compositions in this class will typicallycomprise a particulate mixture of (a) an acidic metal oxide containingsubstantially no zeolite (preferably containing silica and alumina, mostpreferably containing at least 50 wt % alumina); (b) an alkali metal (atleast 0.5 wt %, preferably about 1 to about 20 wt %), an alkaline earthmetal (at least 0.5 wt %, preferably about 0.5 to about 60 wt %) andmixtures thereof; (c) at least 0.1 wt % of a rare earth or transitionmetal oxygen storage metal oxide component (preferably ceria); and (d)at least 0.1 ppm of a noble metal component (preferably Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir,Os, Ru, Re and mixtures thereof). All percentages expressed being basedon the total weight of the oxidative catalyst/additive composition.

A second class of materials useful as oxidative catalyst/additives inthe process of the invention include low NO_(X), CO combustion promoteras disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,165,933 and 6,358,881,the entire disclosure of these patents being herein incorporated byreference. Typically, the low NO_(X)CO combustion promoter compositionscomprise (1) an acidic oxide support; (2) an alkali metal and/oralkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof; (3) a transition metal oxidehaving oxygen storage capability; and (4) palladium. The acidic oxidesupport preferably contains silica alumina. Ceria is the preferredoxygen storage oxide. Preferably, the oxidative catalyst/additivescomprise (1) an acidic metal oxide support containing at least 50 wt %alumina; (2) about 1-10 parts by weight, measured as alkali metal oxide,of at least one alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof;(3) at least 1 part by weight of CeO₂; and (4) about 0.01-5.0 parts byweight of Pd, all of said parts by weight of components (2)-(4) beingper 100 parts by weight of said acidic metal oxide support material.

A third class of materials useful as oxidative catalyst/additives in theprocess of the invention include NO_(x) reduction compositions asdisclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,280,607 B1, 6,143,167 and6,129,834, the entire disclosure of these patents being hereinincorporated by reference. In general, the NO_(x) reduction compositionscomprise (1) an acidic oxide support; (2) an alkali metal and/oralkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof; (3) a transition metal oxidehaving oxygen storage capability; and (4) a transition metal selectedfrom the Groups Ib and IIb of the Periodic Table. Preferably, the acidicoxide support contains at least 50 wt % alumina and preferably containssilica alumina. Ceria is the preferred oxygen storage oxide. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the oxidative catalyst/additivescomprise (1) an acidic oxide support containing at least 50 wt %alumina; (2) 1-10 wt %, measured as the metal oxide, of an alkali metal,an alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof; (3) at least 1 wt % CeO₂;and (4) 0.01-5.0 parts wt % of a transition metal, measured as metaloxide, selected from Group Ib of the Periodic Table, all weightpercentages of components (2)-(4) being based on the total weight of theacidic oxide support material.

Another class of materials useful as an oxidative catalyst/additive inthe invention process include noble metal containing magnesium-aluminumspinel additive compositions as disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No.4,790,982, said patent being herein incorporated in its entirety byreference. Generally, compositions in this class comprise at least onemetal-containing spinel which includes a first metal and a second metalhaving a valence higher than the valence of said first metal, at leastone component of a third metal other than said first and second metalsand at least one component of a fourth metal other than said first,second and third metals, wherein said third metal is selected from thegroup consisting of Group Ib metals, Group IIb metals, Group VIA metals,the rare earth metals, the Platinum Group metals and mixtures thereof,and said fourth metal is selected from the group consisting of iron,nickel, titanium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, germanium, tin, bismuth,molybdenum, antimony, vanadium and mixtures thereof. Preferably, themetal containing spinel comprises magnesium as said first metal andaluminum as said second metal, and the atomic ratio of magnesium toaluminum in said spinel is at least about 0.17. The third metal in thespinel preferably comprise a metal of the Platinum Group metals. Thethird metal component is preferably present in an amount in the range ofabout 0.001% to about 20% by weight, calculated as elemental thirdmetal, and said fourth metal component is present in an amount in therange of about 0.001% to about 10% by weight, calculated as elementalfourth metal.

Oxidative catalyst/additive compositions used in the process of theinvention will typically be in the form of particles and will have aparticle size sufficient to permit the compositions to be circulatedthroughout the catalytic cracking unit simultaneously with the crackingcatalyst. Typically the catalyst/additives will have a mean particlesize of greater than 45 μm. Preferably, the mean particle size is fromabout 50 to 200 μm, most preferably about 55 to 150, and even morepreferred about 60 to 120 μm. The catalyst/additives have a surface areaof at least 5 m²/g, preferably at least 10 m²/g, most preferably atleast 30 m²/g, and a Davison Attrition Index (DI) of 50 or less,preferably 20 or less, most preferably, 15 or less.

The oxidative catalyst/additive may be used as separatecatalyst/additive particles along with the cracking catalyst or may beincorporated into the cracking catalyst as a component of the catalyst.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the oxidativecatalyst/additives are used as separate particles along with thecracking catalyst inventory to permit optimal conversion of the gasphase reduced nitrogen species to nitrogen while maintaining acceptableproduct yields of the cracking catalysts.

When used as a separate additive, the oxidative catalyst/additives areused in any amount sufficient to reduce the content of gas phase reducednitrogen species present in the FCCU regenerator relative to the amountof said nitrogen species present without the use of thecatalyst/additives, as measured by conventional gas analysismethodology, including but not limited to, chemiluminescence, UVspectroscopy and IR spectroscopy, and the like. Typically thecatalyst/additives are used in an amount of at least 0.01 wt %.Preferably, the catalyst/additives are used in an amount ranging fromabout 0.01 to about 50 wt %, most preferably from about 0.1 to about 20wt % of the cracking catalyst inventory. Where the oxidativecatalyst/additives have activity to promote CO oxidation, the amount ofthe catalyst/additives used is preferably an amount necessary to preventafterburning in the catalytic cracking unit. Separate particles of theoxidative catalyst/additive may be added in the conventional manner,e.g. with make-up catalyst to the regenerator or by any other convenientmethod.

When the oxidative catalyst/additive composition is incorporated into oronto the cracking catalyst as a separate component thereof, thecatalyst/additive will typically be used in an amount of at least 0.01weight percent of the cracking catalyst. Preferably, catalyst/additivewill be used in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to 50 weight percentof the cracking catalyst; most preferably from about 0.1 to about 20weight percent of the cracking catalyst.

Other catalytically active components may be present in the circulatinginventory of catalytic material in addition to the cracking catalyst andthe ammonia removal additive. Examples of such other materials includethe octane enhancing catalysts based on zeolite ZSM-5, CO combustionpromoters based on a supported noble metal such as platinum, stack gasdesulfurization additives such as DESOX® (magnesium aluminum spinel),vanadium traps and bottom cracking additives, such as those described inKrishna, Sadeghbeigi, op cit and Scherzer, Octane Enhancing Zeolitic FCCCatalysts, Marcel Dekker, New York, 1990, ISBN 0-8247-8399-9. Theseother components may be used in their conventional amounts.

The effect of the present process to minimize the content of gas phasereduced nitrogen species is the reduction of the overall content ofNO_(x) emissions from an FCC process operating in a partial orincomplete burn mode. Very significant reduction in NO_(x) emissions maybe achieved by the use of the present process, in some cases up to about90% relative to the base case using a conventional cracking catalyst, atconstant conversion, using the preferred form of the catalyst describedabove. NO_(x) reduction of 10 to 90% is readily achievable with theprocess according to the invention, as shown by the Examples below.However, as will be understood by the one skilled in the catalyst art,the extent of NO_(x) reduction will depend on such factors as, e.g., thecomposition and amount of the additive utilized; the design and themanner in which the FCCU is operated, including but not limited tooxygen level and distribution of air in the regenerator, catalyst beddepth in the regenerator, stripper operation and regeneratortemperature; the properties of the hydrocarbon feedstock cracked; andthe presence of other catalytic additives that may affect the chemistryand operation of the regenerator. Thus, since each FCCU is different insome or all of these respects, the effectiveness of the process of theinvention may be expected to vary from unit to unit.

It is further expected that overall NO_(x) emissions will beadvantageously even lower when the process of the invention is used incombination with a CO boiler designed to make the lowest amount ofthermal NO_(x) practical. Typical FCC CO boilers are older technologyand are not optimized for minimum thermal NO_(x) emissions. Up grades tostate-of the art low NO_(x) designs are not expected to be effective dueto the NO_(x) precursors in the off gas from the partial burnregenerator. Low NO_(x) burner design approaches and features aredescribed e.g. in appropriate sections in “The John Zink CombustionHandbook”, editor, Charles E. Baulkal, Jr., published by the CRC Press,2001. The formation of NO_(x) is minimized by avoiding both hightemperature and high excess oxygen zones using flame back mixing,exhaust gas recycle to the burner make-up air, staged fuel injection,intense swirl mixing of air and fuel, longer cooler flames, and variouscombinations of any or all of these design strategies. The presentinvention enables the benefits of low NO_(x) burner technology to berealized from an FCC CO boiler so modified, by minimizing the reducednitrogen species available to be oxidized therein to NO_(x). The resultis a new low NO_(x) partial burn FCC system that can eliminate the needfor capital and operating cost-intensive systems like SCR, SNCR,scrubbers, and other approaches known in the art.

The scope of the invention is not in any way intended to be limited bythe examples set forth below. The examples include the preparation ofoxidative additives useful in the process of the invention and theevaluation of the invention process to reduce NO_(x) and gas phasereduced nitrogen species in a catalytic cracking environment.

To further illustrate the present invention and the advantages thereof,the following specific examples are given. The examples are given asspecific illustrations of the invention. It should be understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the specific details setforth in the examples.

All parts and percentages in the examples as well as the remainder ofthe specification referring to solid material composition orconcentration are by weight unless otherwise specified. However, allparts and percentages in the examples as well as the remainder of thespecification referring to gas composition are molar or by volume unlessotherwise specified.

Further, any range of numbers recited in the specification or claims,such as that representing a particular set of properties, units ofmeasure, conditions, physical states or percentages, is intended toliterally incorporate expressly herein by reference or otherwise, anynumber falling within such range, including any subset of numbers withinany range so recited.

EXAMPLES

The efficiency of the process of the invention for converting gas phasereduced nitrogen species released from an FCCU regenerator operating ina partial or incomplete burn mode to molecular nitrogen was evaluated inthe Examples using a Regenerator Test Unit (RTU) and model reactions.The RTU is an apparatus specifically designed to simulate the operationof an FCCU regenerator. The RTU is described in detail in G. Yaluris andA. W. Peters “Studying the Chemistry of the FCCU Regenerator UnderRealistic Conditions,” Designing Transportation Fuels for a CleanerEnvironment, J. G. Reynolds and M. R. Khan, eds., p. 151, Taylor &Francis, 1999, ISBN: 1-56032-813-4 which description is hereinincorporated by reference.

The model reaction in the RTU for determining the efficiency of theinvention process for converting gas phase reduced nitrogen specieswithout converting the species to NO_(x) was the reaction of NH₃ over acracking catalyst inventory containing the additive tested in thepresence of CO and various amounts of O₂. In this experiment NH₃represents the gas phase reduced nitrogen species, and CO and O₂represent the other reductants and oxidizers typically found in a FCCunit regenerator operating in partial burn. As the O₂ level in thereactor changes, the various reducing/oxidizing conditions that can beencountered from regenerator to regenerator or inside the sameregenerator can be simulated. The key measurement in this experiment inaddition to NH₃ conversion, is how much of the NH₃ is converted toNO_(x) if any. It is desirable that the latter conversion is as low aspossible for a wide range of O₂ amounts in the reactor.

The efficiency of the process of the invention to convert NO_(x) afterit is formed in a FCCU regenerator operating in partial burn wasdetermined in the RTU by measuring the activity of an additive to reduceNO_(x) with CO, a common reductant in every FCCU regenerator. The keyperformance measurement in this test is the NO_(x) conversion. It isdesirable to have high NO_(x) conversion to nitrogen for a wide range ofO₂ amounts.

Gas phase reduced nitrogen species are a reductant for reducing NO_(x)after it is formed. The ability of an additive to catalyze this reactionwhile simultaneously converting the reduced nitrogen species tomolecular nitrogen was determined by measuring in the RTU its activityfor converting NH₃ with NO_(x) under various O₂ levels simulating thereducing/oxidizing conditions possible in a regenerator operating inpartial burn. It is desirable in this experiment to have high NO_(x)conversion to nitrogen.

Example 1

A microspheriodal particulate support material having the followinganalysis: 2.3% total volatiles, and approximately 4.5% SiO₂, 5% Na₂O,16.8% CeO₂, and 73% Al₂O₃, and BET surface area of 140 m²/g was preparedas a base material for the preparation of a NO_(x) composition of theinvention. A slurry was prepared from an aqueous alumina slurry having20% solids of a peptizable alumina (Versal 700 alumina powder, obtainedfrom La Roche Industries Inc., 99% Al₂O₃, 30% moisture). The aluminaslurry was prepared using 31.6 lbs of the alumina powder. To the aluminaslurry 3.87 lbs of an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (50% NaOH) wasadded. Next, 10.4 lbs of cerium carbonate crystals (obtained from RhonePoulenc, Inc., 96% CeO₂, 4% La₂O₃, 50% moisture) was added to theslurry. The slurry was diluted with a sufficient amount of water tobring the solids concentration of the slurry to 12%. Finally, 3.38 lbsof ion exchanged silica sol of Nalco 1140 (obtained from Nalco ChemicalsCo.) was added to the slurry. The mixture was agitated to assure goodmixing and then milled in a stirred media mill to reduce agglomerates tosubstantially less than 10 μm. The milled mixture was then spray driedto form approximately 70 μm microspheres and thereafter calcined atapproximately 650° C. to remove volatiles.

Example 2

An Additive A was prepared using the base material prepared inExample 1. 80 g of the base material was placed in an inclined beaker ona mechanical rotator. A platinum impregnation solution was prepared byweighing out 0.1715 g of a platinum tetramine dihydroxide aqueoussolution containing 22.79% platinum and diluting with DI water to 100 gtotal. The base material was then impregnated by gradually spraying with50 g of the dilute Pt solution through an air mist spray nozzle system.The wet impregnated base material was dried in an oven at 120° C. overnight. The dried cake was in the form of large chunks and was firstground in a blender and screened before calcining at 650° C. for twohours to decompose the nitrates and remove volatiles. The resultingmaterial contained: 72.5% Al₂O₃, 4.4% SiO₂, 5% Na₂O, 18.8% CeO₂, 331 ppmPt, and had a BET surface area of 135 m 2/g and a mean particle size of58 μm.

Example 3

An Additive B was prepared as described in Example 2 with the exceptionthat the platinum impregnation solution prepared was diluted with DIwater to 50 g total and the base material was then impregnated bygradually spraying with all of the latter dilute Pt solution through anair mist spray nozzle system. The resulting material contained: 72.8%Al₂O₃, 4.4% SiO₂, 5.1% Na₂O, 17% CeO₂, 688 ppm Pt, and had a BET surfacearea of 141 m²/g and a mean particle size of 58 μm.

Example 4

An Additive C was prepared in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,601B1. The additive had the following analyses: 5.8% total volatiles, andapproximately SiO₂ 4.9%, Na₂O 4.9%, CeO₂ 21.2%, Al₂O₃ 68.7%, 970 ppm Pd,and BET surface area of 167 m²/g and a mean particle size of 90 μm.

Example 5

The efficiency of Additives A, B and C, prepared in Examples 2, 3, and 4respectively, to remove gas phase reduced nitrogen species other than N₂from an FCCU regenerator operating in partial burn was compared atvarious oxygen levels with that of a cracking catalyst alone and acommercial platinum-containing combustion promoter, CP-3® (platinum onalumina) sold by Grace Davison, Columbia, Md.

The experiments were conducted by calcining the additives for 2 hrs at595° C. Following calcination, the additives were blended at 0.5% levelwith FCC catalyst which had been deactivated for 4 hrs at 816° C. in afluidized bed reactor with 100% steam. The cracking catalyst alone orblended with an additive was then fed to the RTU reactor operating at700° C. The gas feed to the reactor was a mixture of NH₃ and COcontaining 5000 to 5500 ppm CO, approximately 600 ppm NH₃, variousamounts of O₂ added as 4% O₂ in N₂, and the balance N₂. The total gasfeed rate excluding the O₂ containing gas feed was 1000-1100 sccm. Theplatinum on alumina CO combustion promoter, CP-3®, was tested at 0.25%additive level. Results are recorded in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 below.

FIG. 1 shows that at low levels of oxygen, which simulates partial burn,the use of platinum and palladium containing additives, Additives A, B,and C, were highly effective in reducing ammonia when compared to theactivity of the cracking catalyst alone or the platinum-containingcombustion promoter, CP-3®. Further, FIG. 2 shows that under partialburn conditions the additives exhibited increased activity to reduce theammonia to molecular nitrogen thereby preventing the conversion of theammonia to NO_(x). No other nitrogen oxides, e.g., NO₂ or N₂O weredetected, indicating the conversion of NH₃ to molecular nitrogen.

Example 6

The activity of Additives A, B and C, prepared in Examples 2, 3 and 4,respectively, for reducing NO_(x) emissions from an FCCU regeneratoroperating in partial burn mode by reacting NH₃ with NO_(x) at variouslevels of oxygen was compared to that of the cracking catalyst alone anda commercial platinum-containing combustion promoter, CP-3®.

The experiment was conducted as in Example 5 except that the gas mixturefed to the reactor contained approximately 1000 ppm NH₃ and 500-550 ppmNO_(x) as well as various amounts of oxygen with the balance N₂. Resultswere recorded in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 below.

At the high temperatures NH₃ reacts with O₂ to form N₂ or NO_(x). NH₃can also react in the gas phase with NO_(x) in a non-catalytic processthat is often used for NO_(x) abatement. However, the data in FIG. 3 andFIG. 4 show, that in accordance with the process of the invention,Additives A, B, and to a lesser extent, C showed enhanced conversion ofammonia and NO_(x) to molecular nitrogen at low oxygen levels. No othernitrogen oxides, e.g., NO₂ or N₂O were detected, indicating theconversion of NH₃ to molecular nitrogen.

Example 7

The activity of Additives A, B and C to decrease NO_(x) after it isformed in an FCC unit regenerator operating in partial burn was comparedto the activity of the cracking catalyst alone and a commercialplatinum-containing combustion promoter, CP-3®, by measuring theactivity of the catalyst and additives to convert NO_(x) to N₂ in thepresence of CO at various oxygen levels.

The experiments were conducted in the RTU described in Examples 5 and 6with the exception that the gas feed to the RTU reactor was a mixturecontaining 500-550 ppm NO and 5000-5500 CO, at various amounts of O₂ andthe balance N₂. Results are recorded in Figure V

Figure V show that at low oxygen levels simulating partial burn, theAdditives A, B and C are more effective than catalyst alone or theplatinum based combustion promoter, CP-3®, to remove NO_(x).

Example 8

The activity of the Additive C for removal of HCN from an FCCUregenerator was compared to the activity of the cracking catalyst aloneand a commercial platinum-containing combustion promoter, CP-5®(platinum on alumina) sold by Grace Davison, a business unit of W.R.Grace & Co.-Conn., Columbia, Md.

The cracking catalyst was deactivated for 4 hrs at 816° C. in afluidized bed reactor with 100% steam, and coked in a DCR. Thedescription of the DCR is described in detail in the G. W. Young,“Realistic Assessment of FCC Catalyst Performance in the Laboratory,” inFluid Catalytic Cracking: Science and Technology, J. S. Magee and M. M.Mitchell, Jr. Eds., Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis Volume 76,p. 257, Elsevier Science Publishers B. V., Amsterdam 1993, ISBN0-444-89037-8, said reference being herein incorporated by reference.

After being coked in the DCR the catalyst had about 1.2-1.5 wt % coke.About 20 g of the coked cracking catalyst alone or with the Additive Cor the combustion promoter added at 0.5 wt % was loaded in the RTU. Thegas flow to the RTU reactor was about 800 sccm, containing about 5% O₂with the balance N₂. Following an experimental procedure commonly knownto those skilled in the art as Temperature-Programmed Oxidation or TPO,and starting from room temperature, the reactor was heated up to about780° C. by raising the temperature at a rate of about 9° C./min, whilecontinuously flowing the aforementioned gas into the RTU reactor. Duringthis experiment the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur containingcoke species were gradually burnt releasing CO₂, CO, SO₂, reducednitrogen species like HCN, NO and some N₂O. By integrating the detectorsignal over the duration of the TPO experiment we were able to measurethe amount of the various gas phase species made. The results arerecorded in Table 1 below: TABLE I Integrated amount of species detectedin the RTU reactor effluent (a.u.) Cracking Species Catalyst CP-5Additive C HCN 29066 8475 7038 NO 3966 36165 24476 N₂O 3583

1. A process for reducing the content of gas phase reduced nitrogenspecies in the off gas derived from a regeneration zone of a fluidcatalytic cracking unit (FCCU), said process comprising contacting undercatalytic cracking conditions gas phase reduced nitrogen speciescontained in the regeneration zone off gas of a FCCU operated in apartial or incomplete mode of combustion during a fluid catalyticcracking (FCC) process, with a gas phase reduced nitrogen speciesoxidative catalyst/additive composition in an amount sufficient toreduce the content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species present in theoff gas relative to the content of gas phase reduced nitrogen speciespresent in the off gas absent the oxidation catalyst/additivecomposition, said oxidative catalyst/additive composition having a meanparticle size of about 50 to about 200 μm and being selected from thegroup consisting of (A) an acidic oxide support promoted with at leastone metal promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali and/oralkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals, Group Ibmetals, Group IIb metals, Group VIA metals, germanium, tin, bismuth,antimony and mixtures thereof (B) a hydrotalcite promoted with at leastone metal promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali and/oralkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals, Platinumgroup metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIb metals, Group VIA metals,germanium, tin, bismuth, antimony and mixtures thereof, (C) a spinelpromoted with at least one metal promoter selected from the groupconsisting of alkali and/or alkaline earth metals, transition metals,rare earth metals, Platinum group metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIbmetals, Group VIA metals, germanium, tin, bismuth, antimony and mixturesthereof, and (D) mixtures thereof.
 2. The process of claim 1 whereincomposition (A) comprises (1) an acidic metal oxide support; (2) about1-10 parts by weight, measured as metal oxide, of at least one alkalimetal, alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof; (3) a transition metaloxide having oxygen storage capability; and (4) about 0.01-5.0 parts byweight of a metal, measured as metal oxide, selected from the groupconsisting of Group Ib, Group Ib and mixtures thereof, all of said partsby weight of components (2)-(4) being per 100 parts by weight of saidacidic oxide support material.
 3. The process of claim 1 or 2 whereinthe oxidative catalyst/additive composition is circulated throughout theFCCU along with a circulating inventory of a catalytic crackingcatalyst.
 4. The process of claim 3 wherein the residence time of theoxidative catalyst/additive composition in the regeneration zone of theFCCU relative to that of the cracking catalyst inventory issubstantially the same.
 5. The process of claim 3 wherein the residencetime of the oxidative catalyst/additive composition in the regenerationzone of the FCCU relative to that of the cracking catalyst inventory isthe same.
 6. The process of claim 2 wherein component (3) of theoxidative catalyst/additive composition (A) comprises at least 1 part byweight of CeO₂.
 7. The process of claim 1 wherein the oxidativecatalytst/additive composition has a mean particle size ranging fromabout 55 to about 150 μm.
 8. The process of claim 1 wherein theoxidative catalyst/additive composition comprises at least onemetal-containing spinel which includes a first metal and a second metalhaving a valence higher than the valence of said first metal, at leastone component of a third metal other than said first and second metalsand at least one component of a fourth metal other than said first,second and third metals, wherein said third metal is selected from thegroup consisting of Group Ib metals, Group IIB metals, Group VIA metals,the rare earth metals, the Platinum Group metals and mixtures thereof,and said fourth metal is selected from the group consisting of iron,nickel, titanium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, germanium, tin, bismuth,molybdenum, antimony, vanadium and mixtures thereof.
 9. The process ofclaim 1 wherein the gas phase reduced nitrogen species oxidativecatalyst/additive is an additive particle separate from the catalyticcracking catalyst.
 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the gas phasereduced nitrogen species oxidative catalyst/additive is integrated intothe catalytic cracking catalyst as a component thereof.
 11. The processof claim 1 further comprising passing said regeneration zone off gashaving a reduced content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species to a COboiler and releasing an off gas having a reduced content of NO_(x)emissions into the atmosphere.
 12. The process of claim 1 wherein thegas phase reduced nitrogen species comprise ammonia.
 13. The process ofclaim 1 wherein the gas phase reduced nitrogen species comprise hydrogencyanide.
 14. The process of claim 11 wherein the CO boiler is a lowNO_(x)CO boiler.
 15. A process for reducing the content of gas phasereduced nitrogen species in the off gas derived from a regeneration zoneof a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU), said process comprisingcontacting an off gas containing gas phase reduced nitrogen species froman FCCU regenerator with a gas phase reduced nitrogen species oxidativecatalyst/additive composition in an amount sufficient to reduce thecontent of gas phase reduced nitrogen species present in the off gasrelative to the content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species present inthe off gas absent the oxidative catalyst/additive composition, saidoxidative catalyst/additive composition being circulated throughout theFCCU along with an inventory of cracking catalyst and being selectedfrom the group consisting of (A) an acidic oxide support promoted withat least one metal promoter selected from the group consisting of alkaliand/or alkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals,Group Ib metals, Group IIb metals, Group VIA metals, germanium, tin,bismuth, antimony and mixtures thereof, (B) a hydrotalcite promoted witha metal promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali and/oralkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals, Platinumgroup metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIb metals, Group VIA metals,germanium, tin, bismuth, antimony and mixtures thereof, (C) a spinelpromoted with metal promoters selected from the group consisting ofalkali and/or alkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earthmetals, Platinum group metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIb metals, GroupVIA metals, germanium, tin, bismuth, antimony and mixtures thereof, and(D) mixtures thereof.
 16. The process of claim 15 wherein composition(A) comprises (1) an acidic metal oxide support; (2) about 1-10 parts byweight, measured as metal oxide, of at least one alkali metal, alkalineearth metal or mixtures thereof, (3) an transition metal oxide havingoxygen storage capability; and (4) about 0.01-5.0 parts by weight of ametal, measured as metal oxide, selected from the group consisting ofGroup Ib, Group IIb and mixtures thereof, all of said parts by weight ofcomponents (2)-(4) being per 100 parts by weight of said acidic oxidesupport material
 17. The process of claim 15 wherein the oxidativecatalyst/additive composition is circulated throughout the FCCUsimultaneous with the cracking catalyst inventory.
 18. The process ofclaim 15 wherein the residence time of the oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition in the FCCU regenerator relative to that of the crackingcatalyst inventory is substantially the same.
 19. The process of claim15 wherein the residence time of the oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition in the FCCU regenerator relative to that of the crackingcatalyst inventory is the same.
 20. The process of claim 15 wherein theoxidative catalyst/additive composition has a particle size ranging fromabout 50 to about 200 μm.
 21. The process of claim 15 wherein theoxidative catalyst/additive composition comprises at least onemetal-containing spinel which includes a first metal and a second metalhaving a valence higher than the valence of said first metal, at leastone component of a third metal other than said first and second metalsand at least one component of a fourth metal other than said first,second and third metals, wherein said third metal is selected from thegroup consisting of Group Ib metals, Group IIB metals, Group VIA metals,the rare earth metals, the Platinum Group metals and mixtures thereof,and said fourth metal is selected from the group consisting of iron,nickel, titanium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, germanium, tin, bismuth,molybdenum, antimony, vanadium and mixtures thereof.
 22. The process ofclaim 15 further comprising passing said regeneration zone off gashaving a reduced content of gas phase reduced nitrogen species to a COboiler and releasing an off gas having a reduced content of NO_(x) intothe atmosphere.
 23. The process of claim 20 further comprising passingsaid regeneration zone off gas having a reduced content of gas phasereduced nitrogen species to a CO boiler and releasing an off gas havinga reduced content of NO_(x) into the atmosphere.
 24. The process ofclaim 22 or 23 wherein the CO boiler is a low NO_(x)CO boiler.
 25. Theprocess of claim 15 wherein the gas phase reduced nitrogen speciescomprise ammonia.
 26. The process of claim 15 wherein the gas phasereduced nitrogen species comprise hydrogen cyanide.
 27. A method ofreducing NO_(x) emissions during catalytic cracking of hydrocarbonfeedstocks into lower molecular weight components while operating thecatalyst regeneration zone in a partial or incomplete mode ofcombustion, said method comprising (i) contacting an inventory ofcatalytic cracking catalyst circulating in a catalytic cracking unitwith a gas phase reduced nitrogen species oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition selected from the group consisting of (A) an acidic oxidesupport promoted with at least one metal promoter selected from thegroup consisting of alkali and/or alkaline earth metals, transitionmetals, rare earth metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIb metals, Group VIAmetals, germanium, tin, bismuth, antimony and mixtures thereof, (B) ahydrotalcite promoted with a metal promoter selected from the groupconsisting of alkali and/or alkaline earth metals, transition metals,rare earth metals, Platinum group metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIbmetals, Group VIA metals, germanium, tin, bismuth, antimony and mixturesthereof, (C) a spinel promoted with at least one metal promoter selectedfrom the group consisting of alkali and/or alkaline earth metals,transition metals, rare earth metals, Platinum group metals, Group Ibmetals, Group IIb metals, Group VIA metals, germanium, tin, bismuth,antimony and mixtures thereof, and (D) mixtures thereof, (ii)circulating the cracking catalyst inventory and oxidativecatalyst/additive composition throughout the fluid catalytic crackingunit between a hydrocarbon cracking zone and catalyst regeneration zoneoperated in a partial or incomplete mode of combustion to contact aregeneration zone off gas containing gas phase reduced nitrogen speciesto provide a regeneration off gas having a reduced content of gas phasereduced nitrogen species relative to the content of gas phase reducednitrogen species present in the regeneration zone off gas without theoxidative catalyst/additive composition, (iii) providing a CO boilerdownstream of said regeneration zone, said CO boiler being operated in amanner effective to oxidize the regeneration zone off gas, and (iv)passing the regeneration zone off gas to the CO boiler to provide an offgas having a reduced NO_(x) content into the atmosphere.
 28. The processof claim 27 wherein composition (A) comprises (1) an acidic metal oxidesupport; (2) about 1-10 parts by weight, measured as metal oxide, of atleast one alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof; (3) antransition metal oxide having oxygen storage capability; and (4) about0.01-5.0 parts by weight of a metal, measured as metal oxide, selectedfrom the group consisting of Group Ib, Group IIb and mixtures thereof,all of said parts by weight of components (2)-(4) being per 100 parts byweight of said acidic oxide support material.
 29. The process of claim27 wherein said regeneration zone off gas is passed to a separationsmeans wherein said cracking catalyst and oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition are separated in said separation means prior to passage tothe CO boiler.
 30. The process of claim 27 wherein the oxidativecatalyst/additive composition is contacted with the regeneration zoneoff gas in an amount effective to reduce the content of gas phasereduced nitrogen species in the regeneration zone off gas.
 31. Theprocess of claim 27 wherein the gas phase reduced nitrogen speciesoxidative catalyst/additive composition comprises particles having aparticle size sufficient to permit the catalyst/additive composition tobe circulated throughout the catalytic cracking unit simultaneously withthe cracking catalyst inventory.
 32. The process of claim 27 wherein theresidence time of the oxidative catalyst/additive composition in theregeneration zone relative to the residence time of the crackingcatalyst inventory is substantially the same.
 33. The process of claim27 wherein the residence time of the oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition in the regeneration zone relative to the residence time ofthe cracking catalyst inventory is the same.
 34. The process of claim 27wherein the oxidative catalyst/additive composition has a mean particlesize from about 50 to about 200 μm.
 35. The process of claim 27 whereinthe catalytic cracking process is a fluid catalytic cracking process.36. The process of claim 27 wherein the gas phase reduced nitrogenspecies comprise ammonia.
 37. The process of claim 27 wherein the gasphase reduced nitrogen species comprise hydrogen cyanide.
 38. Theprocess of claim 27 or 29 wherein the CO boiler is a low NO_(x)COboiler.
 39. The process of claim 27 wherein the gas phase reducednitrogen species oxidative/additive composition comprises at least onemetal-containing spinel which includes a first metal and a second metalhaving a valence higher than the valence of said first metal, at leastone component of a third metal other than said first and second metalsand at least one component of a fourth metal other than said first,second and third metals, wherein said third metal is selected from thegroup consisting of Group Ib metals, Group IIB metals, Group VIA metals,the rare earth metals, the Platinum Group metals and mixtures thereof,and said fourth metal is selected from the group consisting of iron,nickel, titanium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, germanium, tin, bismuth,molybdenum, antimony, vanadium and mixtures thereof.
 40. The process ofclaims 15 or 27 wherein the gas phase reduced nitrogen species oxidativecatalyst/additive composition is an additive particle separate from thecatalytic cracking catalyst.
 41. The process of claims 15 or 27 whereinthe gas phase reduced nitrogen species oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition is integrated into the catalytic cracking catalyst as acomponent thereof.
 42. The process of claims 16 or 28 wherein component(3) of the oxidative catalyst/additive composition (A) comprises atleast 1 part by weight of CeO₂.
 43. A process for reducing the contentof gas phase reduced nitrogen species in the off gas derived from aregeneration zone of a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU), saidprocess comprising contacting under catalytic cracking conditions gasphase reduced nitrogen species contained in the regeneration zone offgas of an FCCU operated in a partial mode or incomplete mode ofcombustion during a FCC process, with a gas phase reduced nitrogenspecies oxidative catalyst/additive composition having the ability tosimultaneously reduce ammonia and hydrogen cyanide under FCC conditions,in an amount sufficient to reduce the content of ammonia and hydrogencyanide present in the off gas relative to the content of ammonia andhydrogen cyanide present in the off gas absent the oxidationcatalyst/additive composition, said oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition having a mean particle size of about 50 to about 200 μm. 44.The process of claim 43 wherein the oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition is circulated throughout the FCCU along with a circulatinginventory of catalytic cracking catalyst.
 45. The process of claim 44wherein the residence time of the oxidative catalyst/additivecomposition in the regeneration zone of the FCCU relative to that of thecracking catalyst inventory is substantially the same.
 46. The processof claim 44 wherein the residence time of the oxidativecatalyst/additive composition in the regeneration zone of the FCCUrelative to that of the cracking catalyst inventory is the same.
 47. Theprocess of claim 43 wherein the oxidative catalyst/additive compositionhas a mean particle size ranging from about 55 to about 150 μm.
 48. Theprocess of claim 43 wherein said regeneration zone is operated in apartial mode of combustion.
 49. The process of claim 43 wherein saidregeneration zone is operated in an incomplete mode of combustion. 50.The process of claim 43 further comprising passing said regenerationzone off gas having a reduced content of gas phase reduced nitrogenspecies to a CO boiler and releasing an off gas having a reduced contentof NO_(x) emissions into the atmosphere.
 51. The process of claim 50wherein the CO boiler is a low NO_(x)CO boiler.